I have been a horrible blogger. I know I promised many of you I’d keep up with this so you could keep up with me. Life is busy with school and after school activities and friends, but I really want to try to keep this up better.
Since it’s been so long I think I’ll try to give you the highlights of life the past few months.
The beach can be dangerous
We decided to go out to Wing Beach and explore one day. The beaches here are surrounded by reef and so the waves break out away from the coast and you have generally calm water near the beach. We decided we wanted to walk out to where they break and see it. This was a poor life choice. We got close to the edge huge waves came, knocked us down like dominos and threw us around on the rocks a bit. I had my glasses knocked off. Sarah ended up smashing a sea urchin with her hand and I kicked one. We tried to get the spines out with glue, that was unsuccessful. So we soaked them in vinegar and that worked pretty well. Here are a few photos of the process.
Trying to use glue to get the tiny spikes.
Soaking in vinegar for a couple hours.
The beach is also amazing!
We have explored many of the beaches. Some of them are great for sitting in your floatie and riding waves, others have amazing snorkeling. All this fun can be had for a mere $40 total for your floatie and snorkel mask.
This is sunset at the beach just outside my apartment. You can be jealous.
Adventures are everywhere.
Most weekends we try to go somewhere new. There was Forbidden Island which was an insane hike that while it kicked my butt, I’m still glad I pushed through. There is an amazing tide pool at the bottom you can snorkel in and it’s beautiful to see God’s creation. We have also seen The Old Man by the Sea. Not a place to swim or snorkel but to watch the waves crash and God’s power all around is awesome. Basically this place is full of amazing things to see.
View from the top of Mount Tapochau. That is the island of Tinian you see at the horizon.
The Old Man by the Sea. See the profile of an old man on the left?
From Bird Island.
I miss fall, but beaches are cool
While I very much miss fall back home, with it’s bonfires and crisp cool evenings. However, a bonfire on the beach with waves crashing nearby as the sunsets is also a pretty great way to spend an evening.
The sun is setting over the ocean and there is a fire on the beach. Amazing!
Kindergarteners are fantastic and challenging
If you asked me what my ideal grade to teach was from the time I was in college I’d tell you Kindergarten. I finally have a kindergarten class. It is as great as I thought it would be. It’s also difficult (but what job isn’t really) Some days they test every ounce of patience I have. Yet I adore them. They are sweet and to watch them learn new things. Right now some of them are starting to learn how to sound out and read words and it’s so exciting to see them learn. When they are happy with their success it makes me smile.
One of my students with his 3rd Grade Reading Buddy.
Cheap tacos and pizza are the best
There is a place called Godfather’s that has $1 Taco Tuesdays and the biggest pizza I’ve ever seen for $10 on Fridays. It’s what we do every week. It’s cheap and delicious.
Good people make a good place better
Usually in my life I choose to do things based on whether I’ll be surrounded by a good community of people. Relationships are a huge factor for me. (I know I’m quiet but it doesn’t mean I don’t love people.) When I chose to come to Saipan I never even considered that factor. I just knew I had to go. So I did. In that going and being obedient to where God was leading me I have been blessed more than I could have hoped or imagined. I have an amazing group of friends out here. We purposely choose community. We choose to share and know the junk in one another’s lives. We choose to celebrate the good things with each other. We push each other to be better in many ways. This is an amazing group and I’m crazy lucky to call them my friends. This place wouldn’t be half as fantastic without them.
A Sunday afternoon at the beach. (TJ, Robby, Me, Dani, Sarah)
Me, Dani, Robby, Kaebra, and Sarah with Bird Island behind us.
We’re kinda dorks. Bird Island behind us again. (TJ, Kaebra, Sarah, Me, Dani, Robby)
There you go. The highlights of life in Saipan. Hopefully in the future I’ll be a bit better about keeping you up to date on things.
